This "VC Unfiltered" episode features Mayank Jain, a principal at Stellaris Venture Capital. Mayank shares his extensive experience in the venture capital industry, offering valuable insights for fintech startups and entrepreneurs. Episode Highlights :- 01:14 - Background of Mayank 15:25 - Stellaris VP an Overview? 18:27 - Fintech Models that excites you as a VC! 26:37 - Fintech Wishlist! Solutions you want to see being built? 28:50 - What can most founders do better while pitching ? 31:00 - What do VC's look for while evaluating a startup and how do you arrive at a valuation for early stage Startups? 33:43 - Founders or Founding team Vs. Thesis which would you give more weightage to ? 35:26 - Do Indian VC's fall for FOMO while investing in a startup? And How to create FOMO in Investors? 38:02 - What key metrics would you want to hear in Founder's pitch ? Mayank Jain's Background: Mayank discusses his journey from being an average student to attending IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, and his transition into the startup ecosystem. Experience in Startups and Fintech: Insights into his time at small startups, his own HR tech company, and roles in companies like Practo and Ola Financial Services. Stellaris Venture Partners: An overview of Stellaris Venture Partners, their investment thesis, and focus areas, especially in fintech. Investment Strategy: Mayank delves into what Stellaris looks for in startups, focusing on lending solutions, embedded lending, and fintech infrastructure. Future of Fintech: Discussion on the evolution of fintech, potential future trends, and areas of interest for upcoming investments. Advice for Founders: Mayank shares advice for early-stage founders on pitching, building a thesis, and focusing on customer segments, problems, solutions, economics, and market strategies. Q&A with Founders: Addressing questions from founders about venture capital, startup evaluation, and what VCs look for in early-stage startups. Notable Quotes: "India is a special country with its own nuances, and you have to factor that in." "The biggest opportunity lies in credit, as both consumers and SMEs are extremely credit starved." Recommended for: Entrepreneurs, startup founders, fintech enthusiasts, and anyone interested in venture capital and the evolving landscape of fintech in India.